Dispensing cap for bottles and other containers



July 31, 1951 s. M. KALFON 2,562,617

I DISPENSING CAP FOR BOTTLES ANDOTHE R CONTAINERS Filed Nov. 5, 1948 ATTORN E Y5 Patented July 31, 1951 DISPENSING CAP FOR BOTTLES OTHER CONTAINERS Stanley M. Kalfon, Miami Beach, Fla.

Application November 3, 1948, Serial No. 58,101

The present invention relates to dispensing caps for bottles and other containers and more particularly to an adjustable dispensing cap for milk bottles or the like.

It is a principal object of this invention to pro- 2 Claims. (01. 222-560) vide a simple, inexpensive and readily cleanable dispensing cap which may be detachably secured to a bottle or other container.

7 More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved two-piece dispensing cap which may be adjusted between open and closed positions by relative rotation of one piece 'on the other.

A further and specific object of the invention resides in the provision of a dispensing cap comprising a complete cap member having a spout and fitted over another member having a segmental portion complementally engaging the cap member for relative movement and formed with an opening alignable with the spout of the cap member.

- Another specific object of the invention is to provide a two-piece dispensing cap of simple construction which may be inexpensively formed from a suitable plastic or metal and which includes readily separable means for joining the two pieces for relative movement and means for effectively securing the assembly on the end of a bottle or container.

More specifically stated, it is the purpose of this invention to provide a cap comprising a skirted cap and spout member fitted over a sleeve-like closure engaging member having a segmental portion with an opening alignable with the spout of the cap, means for cooperatively engaging the mouth of a bottle or other container, and means Fig. '7 is a top plan view of the sleeve-like member of Fig. 6.

In Fig. 1, a dispensing cap l0, made in accordance with this invention, is secured on a container B in the form of a'lipped milk bottle. The cap ID comprises two basic pieces, namely, a combined cover and spout member l2 and a generally cylindrical mounting sleeve member [4 on which member [2 is secured for relative rotation.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the mounting sleeve member I4 is formed to provide a sleeve l6 having an intermediate inwardly pro-- Je'cting flange l8 terminating in a downturneda curved lip fitting over the rounded mouth or lip; of the bottle B. The laterally projecting flange I8 may be varied in shape and arrangement in accordance with the manner in which the dispensing cap is to be associated with a particular container. Near its lower end, the sleeve It has a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth 22 which are inwardly directed and formed so as to be slightly deflectible in order that they may grip the outside of the bottle a short distance below the point of maximum diameter. Where greater flexibility and accommodation by the sleeve It is necessary or desirable, it may be provided with spaced vertical slots (not shown) extending upwardly from the lower edge to the flange l 8.

It will be further observed that the mounting sleeve member 14 is formed at its upper end with a narrow fiange 24 projecting a slight distance inward to form a seat, and as shown best in Figs.

for limiting movement between spout opening and closing positions.

These and other objects contributing to ease and economy of manufacture and efiiciency in use will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment 1*.

responding to Fig. 3 but showing the cap in closed position;

Fig. 5 is a reduced vertical section of the disassembled cap'and spout piece;

Fig. 6 shows a disassembled side elevation of the sleeve-like member; and

3, 6 and 7, an opposed pair of integral lugs 26, 28 are iormed on the outer surface of said mounting sleeve member a short distance below the top.

A very important feature of this invention is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 which show an upwardly domed strip or spherical segment 30 forming a continuation of th inner surface of sleeve [6 and an outturned shoulder with the end flange 24. This segment 30 has its outer surface formed complemental with and in aposition to engage the inner surface of a hemispherical portion 32 of the generally circular member l2.

The cover member [2 includes as an integral part of the hemispherical portion 32 an outwardly extending horizontal spout 34. This spout 34, which is shown as generally troughshaped, is formed by opposite side walls 36, 36 joined by a bottom wall 38 which is inwardly inclined, and merges with a flat circular surface 40 formed on the bottom of portion 32 for alignment with and seating on the adjacent surface of end. flange 24. The cover and spout member [2 includes also a depending skirt 42 fitting snugly over the upper end portion of the mounting sleeve member l4 with the outwardly shouldered relation shown best in Fig. 2.

In the illustrated embodiment, the inclining of the bottom spout wall 38 is produced by outward thickening and shaping as seen in Fig. 2, the inner surface of this wall forming a continuation of a dispensing opening 44 formed in the spherical segment 30, which opening is of the same size and in continuous peripheral alignment with the opening of spout member 34.

The domed strip or segment 30, which projects upwardly from the sleeve [6, is of such width that the exterior hemispherical portion 32 which engages it may be moved between the spout open and closed positions illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4 respectively without the inner end opening of the spout 34 leaving the segment. Preferably, a moderate amount of lapping is provided in the closed position as shown in Fig. 4. While the interfitting relatively rotatable members or pieces 12 and 14 can be moved between these open and closed positions, it is highly desirable that the relative movement be thus limited so that movement of the spout over the spherical segment 33 would not result in a free opening to the bottle 3 and so as to prevent any guesswork as to the relative positions of the alignable openings. Effective stop means for this purpose are simply and effectively provided by the outwardly extending lugs 26 and 23 on the sleeve iii of member l4 slidably interengaging grooved segments or slots 45 and 48 extending horizontally within the inside of skirt 42 of member E2. The arrangement and extent of the grooves 46 and 48 is such as to provide the desired amount of spout movement, as will be clearly understood from a consideration or the two positions illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4.

In order to provide for ready attachment and detachment of the members or pieces l2 and i l for cleaning and other purposes, a bayonet or zig-zag slot 50 (only one shown) is formed a-djacent an end of each of the lug-engaging slots 46 and 48 so that the lower edge of the skirt 42 may be slipped over the lugs 26 and 28 and the two pieces relatively rotated until the lugs enter the stop grooves 46 and 48. The locking slots 50 are diametrically opposed and extend downardly from adjacent end portions of grooves 46 and 48 with the V-shaped slots pointing in the same direction with respect to the direction of rotation. This arrangement of slots and grooves prevents accidental detachment of members or pieces l2 and 14 while permitting relative rotation between open and closed positions.

If desired, the skirt 42 may be formed with a plurality of spaced treads or vertical gripping projections 52 to make it easier to rotate the cover member I2.

While the operation of this dispensing cap will be fully obvious from the preceding detailed description, it should be noted that the cap of this invention possesses the important advan@ tages of a minimum number of simple pieces which can be easily formed from relatively inexpensive materials. Appreciable saving in cost of the material has been attained by limiting the inner part of the mounting member on which the spout member rotates in cooperative sealing tions, instead of making this a complete counterpart of the spout member as was the general practice hitherto. This limitation also reduces turning friction, facilitates cleaning of both sides of the inner part, and provides a very small area in which the dispensed fluid, for example, milk, can be trapped. The novel construction of the invention herein disclosed provides a non-drip pouring cap adaptable to use with a variety of containers, one that can be quickly attached and removed, and one that can be efiiciently maintained in a sanitary condition with but very little effort.

Those skilled in this art will understand that various changes can be made in the details of construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the principles of this invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as novel and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A two-piece dispensing cap comprising a circular cover member having a projecting spout and a depending skirt portion; and a cylindrical mounting sleeve member interfitted with the cover member for relative rotation, said mounting sleeve member including an upwardly projecting narrow strip having its outer surface formed complemental with and in position to engage the inner surface of the cover member and provided with an opening constructed and arranged for dispensing alignment with said spout upon relative rotation of said cover and sleeve members, and said cover member and said sleeve member being formed with interengaging means detachably securing said members together and accommodating relative rotation.

2. A two-piece dispensing cap for milk bottles or the like comprising a cylindrical mounting sleeve member having an upper end seat, an intermediate inwardly projecting fiange terminating in a downturnecl curved lip adapted to fit over the lip of a milk bottle or the like, circumferentially spaced defiectible teeth below said flange projecting inwardly for gripping engagement with the bottle, and a domed spherical segment projecting upwardly from the mounting sleeve member and having a dispensing opening formed therein; and a cover member having a hemispherical portion complementally engaging the outside of said spherical segment, an outwardly extending spout alignable with the dispensing opening or" said segment, and an outwardly shouldered depending skirt resting on the end seat of the mounting sleeve member and snugly fitting over the upper end portion of said sleeve member, said mounting sleeve member and the skirt of said cover member being formed to provide interengaging means for detachably securing said members and limiting their relative rotation to spout open and closed positions.

STANLEY M. KALFON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 587,517 Bar Aug. 3, 1897 1,714,368 Hobson May 21, 1929 1,908,113 Burke May 9, 1933 

